Angriffe

Angriffe is a German noun meaning attacks or offensive actions. The term derives from the verb angreifen, to attack. In common usage it covers a wide range of actions where one party attempts to harm, constrain, or gain advantage over another.

In military and international law, an armed attack refers to the use of armed force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of a state. This includes land invasions, air strikes, naval incursions, and missile attacks. The concept is central to debates on jus ad bellum and jus in bello. The United Nations Charter prohibits aggression, and the General Assembly has provided definitions and criteria for what constitutes aggression in various resolutions, notably in historic formulations from 1974.

In cybersecurity, attacks describe illicit attempts to compromise computer systems, networks, or data. Common forms include malware distribution, phishing, ransomware, and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) operations. Defenses involve intrusion detection, patch management, encryption, access controls, and incident response planning to restore operations and assess damage.

In sports and games, Angriffe denotes offensive moves aimed at gaining advantage or scoring. This can include strategic incursions in chess, where pieces threaten an opponent’s king or position, or coordinated advances in ball sports toward the opponent’s goal.

In everyday language, Angriffe can also refer to verbal or psychological aggression, harassment, or other forms of violence. The term is frequently discussed in contexts such as self-defense, law enforcement, and conflict resolution to describe actions taken to counter or prevent harm.